The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-10-29
4 taRROW ESCAPE.


 am 29?" said Iona Ross, with pretty frown.
 "l am, my dear-and I'm blunt woman. Why don't you get mar ried?" asked the old lady, surveying her handsome niece critically through her glasses,
 "Precisely what l am here for," chirped the other. "f am going to marry Edward Percy. shall sec him tonight, and he must beware"-- shaking her head coquettishly.
 "But my dear girl, he is infatuated with Clara Dunton."
 "Then Clara Dunton must look out" laughed Iona, when looking at her watch, she discovered 1t was time to go and dress.
 When Miss Ross entered the draw ing room she created thrill of ad- miration. She bowed coolly to Mir. Percy and smiled on the others. Miss Dunton for reader, lecturer. and woman who advocated woman's rights, was playing remarkably weak and unreliant role. She was just say ing when Iona came in that she got so tired of the battle of life sometimes and after Miss Ross little breezy disturbance Mir. Percy, who was under the spell of the enchantress and thought Miss Dunton as near perfection as women generally arc, leaned forward and said in aside: "Why not throw your burden on stronger shoulders, then?' ! Ina h.,1 f.ft t., any onc's strength" with soft little fluttering sigh that touched the gcntlcrnan's heart, as she meant It should
 "Let me teach you faith" he said. Aunt Mary and Mrs. Bridgewater were in deep conversation
 He had almost forgotten Iona, until he casually glanced in her direction, and met the scornful gaze of her proud, dark eyes, and n look of utter contempt on her face, whether for himself or his companion he could not 1 tell. He made some trivial remark to her.
 She answered him calmly and coldly, and then he said, Do. Miss Dunton, favor us with some music" glancing toward the open piano.
 She hesitated moment, colored faintly, and then said, Not o-night, thank you"
 Mir. Percy was a gentleman, but in some things very peculiar and straight t-iorward, as in his question that followed immediately
 "You do play, don't you, Miss Dun ton?"
 Mrs. Bridgcwatcr was looking at her, and so she dared not to tell an untruth, and said
 No am sorry that never had much desire to learn"
 Tndeed. think music A rare accomplishment"
 There was visible disappointment in the gentleman's tone, but Aunt Mary, coming to the rescue. said, fin her quiet way: "Perhaps Iona will play for us."
 "Oh, excuse me! had forgotten that Miss Ross played. Favor us, please"
 Mir. Percy conducted her to the piano, where Iona felt that she should 1 iEdD hIbt III C1tHs
 He was passionately fond of music, and Miss Ross played and sang with soul and spirit.
 You sing beautifully, Miss Ross" l he said when she arose to leave the instrument.
 "Thank you," she replied, quietly.
 Edward Percy walked home in a very thoughtful mood after he had said good night.
 Strange, l never noticed what il prepossessing girl Iona Ross WAS bcfore," he thought. ''Shs would certainly grace any mans home. But she wouldn't bc fool enough to fall in love with me, and If she did, she wouldn't gratify my self-love enough to let me know it. However, 1 begin to like the girl"
 A few evenings later our friends met again at Aunt Maryi. Again Iona was importuDed to sing and play, this time Edward Percy's rich bass joining in with her clear, sweet so- prano.
 After the music ceased he seemed so absorbed in Iona's csrelessly iDdepen- dent yiDgs that Miss DuDton begged leave to read. She read her selections well indeed {; but she had practised for hours for this occasion. Then she entered into discussion of their mer- its with MT. Percy.
 In Hull of the conversation, and when the interest had somew hat Tagged, Aunt Mary said: "That reminds me of some poetry I would like you to hear. will fLd the pieces"
 She returned at last with them, Miss Dunton inwardly expecting that | she would be the one to read them.